I feel sorry for Dhoni, says Smith

South Africa captain Graeme Smith offered his support to under-fire India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday after the defending champions crashed out of the World Twenty20.
India's three-run defeat to England at Lord's on Sunday sparked an avalanche of criticism aimed at Dhoni with his tactical thinking coming under fire from the country's demanding fans.
"Mahendra is a very composed person but a few tactical decisions of theirs have come under scrutiny and that's always difficult to deal with as a leader," said Smith whose team face India in their final Super Eights match at Trent Bridge here on Tuesday.
"If you've captained for long enough, you've been through those phases of your career. As a leader, when things aren't going to plan, they will turn on you. How you handle yourself and handle those situations is a sign of the type of character you are and where you're going in your career.
"I certainly had a few moments like that but hopefully we won't be facing that in this competition. Maybe it's someone else's turn."
Smith added: "We all know India, on paper, are a supremely talented team with lots of options so it was a surprise to see them not perform to that standard in Super Eights."
South Africa have already sealed their place in the semi-finals are almost certain to play their last-four match here on Thursday as Group E winners.
"(Tuesday's match) is not important to the competition but we still want to go out and play well," said Smith.
"In terms of the levels which you are playing and in terms of your combinations it is important for our semi-final.
"It is about challenging ourselves to play at the levels we have been. The challenge for us is to maintain our level of play; it's a very difficult competition if you don't do that.
"It's important, no matter what the result, that we play at the level we are comfortable with.
"Twenty20 is all about adapting to situations, committing to your skills and being well-prepared tactically."

Smith says South Africa can win T20 title

South Africa captain Graeme Smith said his side were well-placed to triumph at the World Twenty20 after extending their unbeaten record at the tournament with a 20-run win over the West Indies.
That victory, coupled with a seven-wicket defeat of hosts England earlier in the week, meant South Africa had won their opening two Super Eights matches.
The Proteas, who are within touching distance of the semi-finals, complete their second round programme against defending champions India at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
"I really believe we can win it," said Smith after South Africa's win over the West Indies at The Oval.
"But there is a long way to go, a lot of cricket to be played and a lot of good teams in this competition.
"It's been a successful week but a tough one. We get an extra day now before we play India and I'm comfortable with where we are, you can't argue with the performances or the results we have turned out in this competition so far.
"As a team we try to challenge ourselves. There are always things to improve but if we play our best and with our intensity, if we perform to our potential, then we will be difficult to beat."
South Africa made 183 for seven, Herschelle Gibbs top-scoring with 55, before holding the West Indies to 163 for nine in an innings where teenage left-arm quick Wayne Parnell took four wickets for 13 runs.
"You really need to be on top of your game against the West Indies, especially here at the Oval where the conditions suit them," explained Smith.
Parnell, 19, who took three wickets against England, said: "It's still a batsman's game but if you bowl well you can pick up wickets.
"I enjoy bowling at the death. I have developed my yorker in the last 10 months and I am adding other things to my game."
India went down to a seven-wicket loss to the West Indies at Lord's on Friday.
Before they play South Africa they face England on Sunday at Lord's and Smith said of his team's clash with the title-holders: "There is a lot of cricket in the group before that.
"India had not been really tested in the competition until Friday. I think they will have taken a lot of lessons from that.
"It was their first real competitive game so it going to be interesting to see how they go before Tuesday."

Smith looks to cap Test success with T20 triumph

South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes winning the ICC World Twenty20 in England will be the ideal way to show his side are a force to be reckoned with in all forms of the game.
Smith has led his side to Test series wins in England and Australia in recent times and now the opening batsman is looking for fresh success on English soil as South Africa seek a first major one-day trophy since 1998.
"It would be lovely if we could be successful in this tournament or any ICC tournament that is coming up," Smith told reporters at Lord's here on Sunday.
"We have had an incredible period in the last 16 months and the team has achieved so much.
"The confidence is good and we are excited about playing this tournament with the chance to go out and express ourselves. I think there is a lot more talent, flair and confidence among this team than ever before."
Smith and several of his compatriots had the ideal preparation for the World Twenty20 by taking part in the 20-overs-per-side Indian Premier League.
A franchise event featuring many of the world's leading players, the IPL was moved to South Africa at short notice after security fears meant it could not be played in India.
"Cricket South Africa and the country as a whole did a fantastic job in hosting the event at three weeks' notice," said Smith.
"It was an incredible effort and we proved our country?s ability at hosting major events. A lot of our players had prominent roles in a number of the teams which probably wouldn?t have happened if it had been in India and they had good leadership roles among their teams."
Veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis helped the Bangalore Royal Challengers to the IPL final.
He has, though, sometimes been criticised for slow scoring and an unwillingness to bowl his sharp seamers and Smith said: "Jacques is the one player who arrives here with a point to prove.
"He had a decent performance in the IPL so his confidence his high and tactically how we use him is important. He?s an all-rounder and needs to contribute in all forms."
For many South African players, the combination of international and IPL commitments has led to a fairly intense schedule.
"Mental fatigue is probably our biggest challenge and something we have addressed as a team," Smith, whose side are in Group D alongside New Zealand and minnows Scotland, said.
That professionalism wasn't matched, in Smith's eyes, on Sunday when the Proteas turned up at the Southgate club ground in north London, used by Middlesex for home matches when they are not at Lord's, for a practice session only to discover that their arrival was news to their hosts.
They had to head back to Lord's instead and Smith said: "Even today with the not-so-great training facilities we have had all over the place the guys have still applied themselves."